Floribunda rose plant named ‘Poulcas031’

ABSTRACT

A new garden rose plant of the compact floribunda class which has abundant, pink flowers and attractive foliage. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Botanical designation: Rosa hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Poulcas031’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of gardenrose plant which originated from a controlled crossing between thefemale seed parent, an unnamed, non-commercial seedling, and the malepollen parent, also an unnamed, non-commercial seedling.

The two parents were crossed during the summer of 1997 and the resultingseeds were planted in a controlled environment in Fredensborg, Denmark.The new variety, named ‘Poulcas031’, originated as a single seedlingfrom the stated cross.

The new variety may be distinguished from its female seed parent by thefollowing combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The seed parent has dark red flowers. ‘Poulcas031’ has pink        flowers.    -   2. The seed parent has more flower petals than ‘Poulcas031’.

The new variety may be distinguished from its male pollen parent by thefollowing combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The pollen parent has over 75 petals. ‘Poulcas031’ has 40 to        50 petals.    -   2. Flowers of the pollen parent have a general tonality of Red        Group 49A, while flowers of ‘Poulcas031’ are Red-Purple Group N        57A.

The objective of the hybridization of this rose variety was to create anew and distinct variety for garden use with unique qualities, such as:

-   -   1. Uniform and abundant pink flowers;    -   2. Vigorous, but compact growth when propagated both as a budded        rose and on its own roots;    -   3. Exceptional disease resistance.

This combination of qualities is not present in previously availablecommercial cultivars of this type, known to the inventor, anddistinguish ‘Poulcas031’ from all other varieties of which we are aware.

As part of the rose development program, Mogens N. Olesen germinated theseeds from the aforementioned hybridization during winter of 1997 andconducted evaluations on the resulting seedlings in a controlledenvironment in Fredensborg, Denmark. ‘Poulcas031’ was selected in thespring of 1998 by the inventor as a single plant from the progeny of theaforementioned hybridization.

Asexual reproduction of ‘Poulcas031’ by traditional budding and rootedcuttings was first done by Mogens N. Olesen in the nursery inFredensborg, Denmark in July, 1998. This initial and other subsequentasexual propagations conducted in controlled environments havedemonstrated that the characteristics of ‘Poulcas031’ are true to typeand are transmitted from one generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustrations show as true as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typicalcharacteristics of the buds, flowers, leaves, and stems, of‘Poulcas031’. Specifically illustrated in the drawing are:

FIG. 1; Cluster of open flowers, showing flower bud, reproductive flowerparts and detached petals.

FIG. 2; Open flowers and reproductive flower parts.

FIG. 3; Stems showing attachment of leaves, mature and juvenile growth.

FIG. 4; Leaves;

FIG. 5; Bare flowering branch with flower buds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a description of ‘Poulcas031’, as observed in itsgrowth in in a field nursery in Jackson County, Oreg. Observed plantsare 3 years of age, and were grown on Rosa multiflora understock. Colorreferences are made using The Royal Horticultural Society (London,England) Colour Chart, 2001, except where common terms of color areused.

For a comparison, several physical characteristics of the rose variety‘Poulthe’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,879 are compared to ‘Poulcas031’ inChart 1.

CHART 1 ‘Poulcas031’ ‘Poulthe’ Petal Count 40 to 50 55 to 60 FlowerDiameter 70 to 80 mm 40 to 50 mm General Tonality Red-Purple Group N 57ARed-Purple 57A of Flower Color

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

-   Blooming habit: Continuous.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—Upon opening, 25 mm in length from base of receptacle            to end of bud. Bud diameter is about 13 mm.        -   Bud form.—Urceolate.        -   Bud color.—As sepals unfold, petals are Red-Purple Group            N57B.        -   Sepal inner surface.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 145 B.            Surface: Moderate pubescence.        -   Sepal outer surface.—Color: Green Group 143C. Texture:            Smooth.        -   Sepal shape.—Apex: Cirrhose. Base: Flat at union with            receptacle.        -   Sepal margin.—Margins have weak foliaceous appendages on            three of the five sepals.        -   Sepal size.—25 to 30 mm long by 7 mm wide.        -   Receptacle.—Texture: Smooth. Shape: Campanulate. Size: 7 mm            (height) and 7 mm (wide). Color: Green Group 143C.        -   Peduncle.—Length: 50 to 70 cm. Diameter: 3 to 4 mm. Color:            Yellow-Green Group 146C.        -   Pedicel.—Surface: Some prickles. Length: 50 to 60 mm.            Diameter: 2 to 3 mm. Color: Yellow-Green Group 146C.            Strength: Strong.-   Flower bud development: Flower buds are borne in clusters of 5 to 7    flower buds per stem.-   Flower bloom:    -   -   Fragrance.—Medium floral scent.        -   Duration.—The blooms have a duration on the plant of            approximately 8 to 10 days. Petals fall cleanly away from            plant after flowers have fully matured.        -   Size.—Flower diameter is 70 to 80 mm when open. Flower depth            is about 30 mm.        -   Flower shape.—General shape is a hybrid tea that opens            quickly to become cup shaped with petals that curve out from            the center. The reproductive parts remain hidden by the            inner petals.        -   Shape of flower, side view.—Upon opening the upper portion            is flat. The lower portion is flat. After opening, the upper            portion is a flattened convex. The lower portion is flat.-   Petalage: Under normal conditions, flowers have 40 to 50 petals    total, 10 of which are petaloids.-   Petal color:    -   -   Upon opening, outer and inner petals.—Upper surface:            Red-Purple Group N57A. Lower surface: Red-Purple Group N57B            to N57C.        -   Basal petal spots, upon opening.—Upper surface: Yellow Group            6C. Lower surface: Yellow Group 6D.        -   After opening, outer and inner petals.—Upper surface:            Red-Purple Group N57A. Lower surface: Red-Purple Group N57B            to N57C.        -   Basal petal spots, after opening.—Upper surface: Yellow            Group 6C. Lower surface: Yellow Group 6D.-   General tonality: On open flower Red-Purple Group N 57A. No change    in the general tonality at the end of the 10th day.-   Petals:    -   -   Petal reflex.—Flat.        -   Margin.—Entire and uniform.        -   Shape.—Generally narrow elliptic in shape. Apex shape:            Rounded. Base shape: Acute.        -   Size.—40 to 30 mm (1)×40 to 25 mm (w).        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Thickness.—Average.-   Petaloids:    -   -   Quantity.—10 on average.        -   Shape.—Asymmetric, with a rounded apex and an acute base            point of attachment.        -   Color.—Upper surface is Red-Purple Group N57A. Lower surface            is Red-Purple Group N57B to N57C. There are basal petal            spots the color of upper surface Yellow Group 6C, and lower            surface, Yellow Group 6D.        -   Size.—Approximately 15 mm long by 15 mm wide.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pollen.—None observed.        -   Anthers.—Length: 2 mm. Color: Yellow Group 13C. Quantity: 75            on average.        -   Filaments.—Color: Yellow Group 12 A. Length: 5 mm.        -   Pistils.—Length: 7 mm. Quantity: 50 on average.        -   Stigmas.—Superior to the anthers. Color: Yellow Group 4D.        -   Styles.—Color: Green-White Group 157A.        -   Hips.—None Observed in the field nursery in Jackson County            Oreg.

PLANT

-   Plant growth: Upright to bushy. When grown as a budded field grown    plant on Rosa multiflora understock, the average height of the plant    is 90 cm and the average width is 90 cm.-   Stems:    -   -   Color.—Juvenile growth: Yellow Green Group 144A. Mature            growth: Green Group 138A.        -   Length.—On average, canes are 50 cm from the base of the            plant to the flowering portion.        -   Diameter.—5 mm average.        -   Surface texture.—Young wood: Smooth. Older wood: Smooth.-   Prickles:    -   -   Incidence.—7 prickles per 10 cm of stem.        -   Size.—Average length of prickles on mature stems is 6 mm.        -   Shape.—Deeply concave underneath the linear upper side.        -   Color.—Juvenile prickles: Yellow-Green Group 144C with some            having intonations of Greyed-Red Group 180C. Mature            prickles: Yellow-Green Group 144C.-   Plant foliage: Normal number of leaflets leaves in middle of the    stem: 7 leaflets.    -   -   Compound leaf.—120 mm (1)×75 (w).        -   Quantity.—3 leaves per 10 cm of stem on average.        -   Color of mature foliage.—Upper side: Yellow-Green Group            147A. Lower side: Yellow-Green Group 147C.        -   Color of juvenile foliage.—Upper side: Yellow-Green Group            146B with intonations of Greyed-Red Group 178A. Lower side:            Yellow-Green Group 146C.-   Plant leaves and leaflets:    -   -   Stipules.—Size: 20 to 30 mm in length. Quantity: 2 per            compound leaf. Shape: Linear, slightly broad based with            outward extending apices. Margins: Finely serrated with few            stipitate glands. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144B.        -   Petiole.—Length: 30 mm. Diameter: 2 mm.        -   Upper petiole surface.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A.            Observations: Stipitate glands.        -   Lower petiole surface.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144B.        -   Rachis.—Length: 50 to 75 mm.        -   Upper rachis surface.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A.            Observations: Stipitate glands.        -   Lower rachis surface.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144B.        -   Leaflet.—Edge: Serrated. Size: Average size of the terminal            leaflet on normal leaves is 55 mm in length by 40 mm wide.            Shape: Obovate. Base: Rounded. Apex: Cuspidate. Texture:            Smooth. Thickness: Average. Arrangement: Odd pinnate.            Venation: Reticulate. Glossiness: Very Glossy.-   Disease resistance: Above average resistance to powdery and downy    mildew, rust, black spot, and Botrytis under normal growing    conditions in Jackson County, Oreg.-   Cold hardiness: The variety is tolerant to USDA Cold Hardiness Zone    6.-   Heat tolerance: The variety has been found to be suitable for    climate conditions found in the American Horticulture Society heat    zone 7.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant ofthe compact floribunda rose class named ‘Poulcas031’, substantially asillustrated and described herein, due to its abundant pink flowers,disease resistance, and extended period of bloom.